(instrumental music)
- Linda.
(lively instrumental music)
(chattering)
- Well, now you must give me some work to do.
- Yes, what can we think of?
Can you speak Spanish? - No.
- What do you know about welfare work?
- Well, nothing I'm afraid.
Oh dear, how hopeless I am.
- Lavender will find you a job, Lavender!
- Lavender Davis! - Hello Linda!
- [Christian] You two know each other?
- Oh yes, we're great friends.
I was a bridesmaid at her wedding.
Her first wedding, to Tony.
- Lavender's wonderful.
She works with the mothers and babies.
- How's your little girl?
- Oh, she's fine.
- I know what you can do.
We're evacuating 7,000 refugees to Mexico and
what delicious scent you have.
Is that Pres Lande?
I thought so.
You can arrange the accomodation on the ship.
(steps clattering)
- Haldo family.
One, two, three, four,
and the Masega family.
One, two, yes.
Now the family Lapati!
No no, no, no monsieur.
Excuse me sir no!
No!
(clattering)
Ladies and gentlemen, please!
Please!
Linda!
(slow instrumental music)
It's my brother!
(foreign language)
Oh I hoped I'd find you here.
- You haven't come to take me home have you?
- No, of course not!
I've bolted too!
With Christian...
- Christian?
I bet they made a stink at home.
- The refugees are such terrific hons.
- Don't let Pa hear you say that.
- Frogs are slightly better than Huns or whops
but abroad is unutterably bloody
and all foreigners are thieves.
(singing)
♪ Sleeping alone ♪
(laughs)
- You've done wonderfully Linda.
- Did you work on any special plan when you were
allocating the cabins?
- Why, wasn't it alright?
- It's perfect, everybody had a place.
I just wondered what you went by when you allocated
the good cabins that's all.
- I simply gave the best cabins to the people who had
Labrador on their card because I used to have one
when I was little.
(laughs)
So sweet, you know.
- Labrador in Spanish means labor.
- So the scheme was excellent by the way,
was most democratic.
The farmhands all found themselves in luxury,
while the intellectuals were battened.
- I do miss having dogs.
They'd love you however silly you are.
(whispering)
- [Man] I'm not happy.
- What'll they do all day?
- Boy waters the geraniums.
You know now bad it is for them to have too much water.
Of course they're all leaf as a result.
- They can't afford to come home?
- Poor Boy.
No club, no London library, no Sonia.
Shut up month after month with a cross little girl
he's known from a baby.
- Poor Polly.
- Look, I know it's wrong to rouse the sexual instincts
of little girls so they fall madly in love with you,
the poor old boy's taking a fearful punishment.
And between you and me,
she's having some other trouble with him.
- Kitchen maids.
- No, not kitchen maids.
- Sonia has never mentioned Polly to me.
Never once.
- Well perhaps she doesn't think about her anymore.
- This Polly can't be much of a personality,
to have left such a small dent where she used to be.
- Well, the thing about Polly is her beauty.
- More beautiful than one?
- Well, with Polly you just gaze and gaze.
- Maybe I should have a nip and a tuck like Sonia,
what do you think?
- When you think how rich you would have been.
- No cruel looks at one.
Fair is fair, you know.
(gasps)
(foreign language)
- How can you tell?
- It's from your wicked mother, the bolter I expect.
- Might I not have bought it for myself?
- No, no my love.
You are saving up to educate your 12 brilliant sons!
You stay as you are my darling.
There is no point in your wearing expensive clothes.
You are like the royal family,
whatever you wear you'll look exactly the same.
(instrumental music)
(clacking)
(steps clattering)
- Little houseless match.
It has no roof, no thatch.
It lies alone, it makes no moan, the little houseless match.
(cries)
- Oh mad!
- What's the matter?
- He loves her.
- What? - He loves Lavender!
- Lavender Davis?
- Oh I haven't seen them kissing or anything like that.
I just know that they're perfectly happy together.
They're utterly suited.
Their work, their ideals,
they're soul mates.
(sad instrumental music)
Dear Christian,
I can see that our marriage has been a failure.
I'm going away, please don't look for me.
Please look after Matt.
P.S., I think you had much better marry Lavender.
- [Fanny] The journey this time was horrible.
Linda had torn up the past two years and thrown them away
like so much waste paper.
She had found neither great love nor inspired it in others
and now she was doomed to the lonely, hunted life
of a beautiful but unattached woman.
A woman like my mother, the bolter.
(clattering)
(foreign language)
(cries)
(sad instrumental music)
(foreign language)
- One does not have to show at hands to guess that.
- Why?
- Well, French ladies never, never sit crying on their
suitcases of the Gare Du Nord at the very early morning,
while white slaves always have protectors,
and it is only too clear that you're unprotected just now.
(cries)
(foreign language)
- My return ticket's expired.
- I invite you to luncheon with me.
But first you must have a bath and dress
and a cold compress on your face.
(foreign language)
- For not taking you to the Ritz,
but I have a feeling for the Hotel Montalembert just now
that will suit your mood this morning.
I will fetch you a little before one o'clock.
You kept me waiting.
That is a very good sign.
- A sign, of what?
- That our affair will be happy and last long.
- We are not having an affair.
- My name is Fabrice, may I ask yours?
- Linda. - Linda.
With me, it usually lasts five years.
- Well my first was a conservative and my second
is a communist.
- Just as I guessed.
Your first is rich and your second poor.
- How can you tell?
- The fur coat, though it is a hideous color.
Still, it's usually be took of some husband somewhere.
Then there's dreadful linen suit you are wearing,
has ready made written all over it.
- You're rude.
It's a very pretty suit.
- And last years.
If you are well dressed you would be quite good looking,
though it's true your eyes are small.
Blue a good color, but small.
- In England, I am considered a beauty.
- Well, you have point.
(foreign language)
- How fortunate you are to live in such a city.
It would be impossible to be very unhappy here.
- One's emotions are intensified in Paris.
One can be more happy and more unhappy here
than in any other place.
But the rest of the world seems unbearably bleak to us.
Hardly worth living.
Come into my flat.
- No, no, the time has come for me to point out
that I am (foreign language).
(laughs)
- What a phrase, where did you find it?
And if so serious, how do you explain the second husband?
- Well I admit that I did wrong, very wrong indeed.
But that is no reason for losing control all together.
And please, if you would be so kind
as to lend me some money, I want to catch the London train
tomorrow morning.
- But of course, by all means.
I will come back at 8 o'clock and take you to dinner.
(sweet instrumental music)
(phone rings)
- Hello? - Hello.
- Good morning.
Are you having breakfast?
This is good.
- It's so delicious that I had to keep stopping
for fear of finishing it too quickly.
- I must tell you that I like very long conversations
in the morning and I shall expect you to (foreign language).
- Well, as a matter of fact, I adore chatting,
it's my favorite thing and I expect that you will want
to ring off ages before I do.
(foreign language)
- Haven't you any other engagements?
- Of course, I have canceled them.
- Well who are your friends?
- The gens demand and yours?
- Well I used to know wealthy people,
but since my second marriage I've become more serious.
- Oh everybody's getting more serious,
that's the way things are going.
Whatever may be in politics and communists or fascists
the gens demand are the only possible ones for friends.
- Why?
- What else is there to distinguish men from the animals
but his social life and who understands it so well
as les gens demand?
But one cannot have it at the same time as a love affair,
so, I have canceled all my engagements.
- Well what a pity, because I'm going back
to London tomorrow morning and this time I really am.
- Ah yes, I had forgotten!
What a pity.
(phone rings)
- Hello? - Hello.
- Were you asleep?
- Yes, of course, what time is it?
- About two.
Shall I come around and see you?
- Do you mean now? - Yes.
- Well I must say it would be very nice,
but the only thing is, what would the night porter say?
(knocking) (slow instrumental music)
- Do you always laugh when you make love?
- I suppose I do.
I generally laugh when I'm happy and cry when I'm not.
Very simple character, you know.
Don't most women laugh?
- Oh no, more often they cry. - Extraordinary!
Don't they enjoy it?
- They call on the Virgin Mary to forgive them! (laughs)
But you, my dear, it's very strange.
(foreign language)
- This is where I'm going to live?
- When I was young, I used to hide in wardrobes,
disguise myself as a footman, climbing out the windows.
Now I prefer to be comfortable.
- Your (foreign language) called you Monsieur La Duke.
Well who exactly are you?
- Oh, haven't you discovered that?
What an extraordinary lack of curiosity.
My name is Sauveterre.
In short madame, I am happy to tell you that I am
a very rich duke, a most agreeable thing to be,
even in these days.
- [Linda] He met you apparently at Hampton.
He said you went for a walk and discussed Polly.
We have a routine.
I must tell you that my family is not
entirely without virtue.
Fabrice dines with me every night and stays until
7 o'clock the next morning.
When he goes home, gets into bed with his breakfast
and the newspapers, phones me up at 9 and we talk nonsense
for an hour so he hasn't seen me for days.
Oh I know it's wicked, but I'm so happy Fanny,
so very happy.
(engine rumbles)
- Polly, what a treat!
How marvelous to see you!
Hello boy. - Hello.
- How lovely Italy must've been.
- Yes, yes though I rather think Polly's delighted
to be back.
- Do forgive Boy, he's dying to get to the library.
- Ah, yes, yes.
Don't hurry a bit!
It's so wonderful to be home!
Fuller's walnut cake, what bliss!
- Why have you come home now?
- I can't have a baby abroad, poor little thing,
not a cow in the place.
We're so lucky that Jeffrey came to the rescue.
- Jeffrey?
- Lord Paddington, he's asked Boy to write the history
of his family, that's why we can afford to come home.
Do you know him? - Yes.
- He never came to Hampton because he couldn't stand mama.
I wonder what's going to come first, this war or my baby.
- Are you going to see your mother?
- Boy's frightened, but there's really nothing more
she can do to us, is there?
- Well I don't think you have to worry about her.
She's altered completely in this past year.
- I'm dying to meet Cedric.
- Oh he's dying to meet you too!
You're Rebecca to him.
- You mean they're in love?
- Oh no, not in that way.
It's not Cedric's thing.
- I should think at one time that mommy rather fancied Boy,
though he says not.
(foreign language)
- Good heavens!
Merci.
Are you in disguise?
- Oh no, I have to wear these when I go abroad.
I have such kind eyes you see, beggars clust around
and annoy me.
- Why are you here?
- I'm staying with Baby,
but I really wanted to see how you are.
I've been madly curious.
- Do ma and fa know?
- No, they think you're still with Christian.
It is a great pleasure to see you in the path,
I wouldn't have missed it for the world, goodness!
How funny it all is.
Such a wonderfully old fashioned little love nest.
What an interest you are in one's life, Linda dear.
- Don't tease, I'm so happy you can't think.
- What time does your lover usually arrive?
- Not till 7.
Oh do say and see him Merlin, he is such a terrific hon.
- Who is he?
- He is called the Duke de Sauveterre.
- Oh.
- Do you know him?
- Darling Linda, one always forgets under that look
of sophistication what a little provincial you really are.
Of course I know Fabrice!
And all about him, and so does everyone else,
except you.
- Well what do you mean?
- Fabrice is undoubtedly one of the wickedest men
in Europe as far as women are concerned.
But I must admit, he's a most agreeable companion.
(instrumental music)
(knocks)
(foreign language)
- Why did you come to my house today?
- I suddenly wanted to see you very much.
- Why didn't you wait?
- I wanted to ask you something
and then I realized it wasn't important.
Nothing matters except this,
us, and now.
(engine rumbles)
I don't want to go back home ever.
- But you will probably have to, soon.
German troops are mobilizing close to the border.
- I never want to leave you.
For as long as I live.
- You must promise me ma cher, that the very minute
I tell you to leave for London you must do so.
I have a flat in Chelsea, it's all ready for you.
- What about you?
- I have duties that will keep me here.
- Hello darling!
Have you seen, they started putting sandbags up all along...
- Polly's baby died.
- Fanny, how lovely to see you.
- Oh Polly.
- Look, Jeffery Paddington sent those.
- I'm so sorry.
- Isn't he a perfect love?
They're my favorite flowers.
They'll be here any minute, you're not to leave me
alone with them.
Is that them?
Is Cedric there?
- Now Lady Polly, it's early days,
and if you don't want visitors...
- Tell me what they're doing Fanny.
- Well Boy and Cedric are chatting away.
Your husband's no fool.
- What do you mean?
- Well, if he gets into Cedric's good graces
it might help matters mightn't it?
They're coming up.
Polly are you sure?
- I better get it over with, otherwise this silly feud
will go on forever.
Besides, I can't wait to see mommy's hair.
- Oh!
You've moved Patricia's dressing table, so much better
like that, more light.
Lovely flowers, may I have one for Cedric's buttonhole?
So, the poor baby died.
I expect it was just as well.
Children are such an awful expense nowadays.
She seems quite cheerful.
- Boy is going to show me over his blissful garden
darling, he'll drive me home later.
- Lovely, lovely!
- Just a quick tour.
Cheerio.
So, I met a wonderful chap at Amalfi, said he knew you.
- Oh, what's his name?
- Count Pincio.
- Oh I'd die for him.
- He dies for you too.
- Oh, was it a house party?
Don't stop, tell me who else was there!
- Well the Countess Harcourt, of course.
Doesn't she have funny little eyes?
- Like a bull terrier.
- Yes, yes, or one of those fishes, you know. (laughs)
(knocks)
- Oh Polly my dear.
I'm so very sorry.
You've had a terrible time, hadn't you?
What can I do to help?
- Oh Jeffrey! - Oh my dear.
(cries)
My poor dear.
Shh.
- He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, don't interrupt my angel.
He loves me not.
Oh heaven, he loves me.
I may as well tell you, my darling, that the second
big thing in my life has begun.
(plucky instrumental music)
- [Fanny] Cedric managed the whole thing quite beautifully.
As soon as Polly had recovered her health,
he book Boy away for a few weeks, during which time,
a Morris Cowley was seen more and more frequently
in the drive until before very long, Polly got into it,
and was taken to Paddington Park, where she remained.
When war was finally declared in September,
Alfred was called up and I took refuge at Alconleigh.
- Good!
Good,
very good.
Another foot Josh, come on, no slacking!
This will stop the sewers for at least two hours.
Possibly three
before we all get killed.
- Tea's ready!
- Come on!
Keep at it!
- Oh Sadie, it's so lovely to be back.
- The more the merrier dear, and Linda will be home soon,
I hope.
- It'll be just like old times.
- Though we can't seem to get in touch with her.
She and Christian still seem to be in Paris.
- You'll never guess, in a thousand, thousand years
who has just arrived.
- Who?
- Hitler?
- Linda!
- Good God!
The bolter.
- My darling daughter.
How I've missed ya.
So Juan, the darling boy, helped me escape across
the Pyrenees.
We walked for days and days, the blisters!
- You must be very brave.
(huffs)
- It's no use talking to him darling,
he doesn't speak a word of English.
- I'm sorry mommy, but it absolutely disgusting!
- What is it?
- What can I do?
The meat ration only lasts about two meals.
- Why can't you shoot some pheasants fath?
- Because I'm saving my ammunition for the Hun.
- He's Spanish Matthew.
- How many husbands has she had?
- It's either six or seven.
(knocks)
- The Germans have invaded Denmark.
You must leave this afternoon.
(chattering)
Here we are.
- When this is over, you will come and find me in London?
Promise.
- It might be months or years.
- I shall wait.
(slow instrumental music)
(whistle blows)
(sings in foreign language)
- Do you know Juan rushes in tone before tea
and lives with her.
- Before tea? - Can you imagine?
- He has my eyes, don't you think?
Well isn't this nice, just us together.
A family again after all this time.
- There's something I want to ask you.
All these years I've been curious and now a mother myself,
I've been thinking about it even more.
What I mean it, now I've got Daisy...
- Listen bolter!
I'm not having that dago in my house any longer.
You'll have to make other arrangements.
- You're such a pashid darling.
You want to keep all your women to yourself.
- It's been two months Bolter!
- He saved my life in Spain.
- I can't stand the sight of that sewer lounging about here.
- He's not lounging sweetie, he's unhappy.
He's got nothing to do.
He used to be a cook, you know.
He ran a restaurant before the civil war.
He kept it going through all the fighting.
He made the most wonderful meals out of absolutely nothing.
(guitar plays)
- Oh what is it today Juan?
(foreign language)
- Delicious.
(foreign language)
- Smells of abroad.
- I'm going to go.
The moment I'm 21.
Do you know how much I've got in my post office book?
- You can't go abroad dear, none of us can now.
I wish Linda would telephone.
At least she's in London now.
- What's the Tolbert fellow think he's doing?
Why can't he put her on a train?
- Can't you go and see her Fanny?
Perhaps she would listen to you.
- Linda darling.
You must come to Alconleigh.
- But I can't!
Fabrice might call.
- Well London's going to be bombed any day soon.
- He's working for De Gaulle now.
It's very dangerous.
I've got to be here for him.
- You look terrible.
- I just feel sick, that's all.
I'm having his baby.
- But you're not supposed to have another child.
- Doctors, they don't know anything.
They're such fearful idiots.
(instrumental music)
If this comes out, he'll telephone.
If this comes out, he'll write.
(sirens blare)
If this comes out, he won't be killed.
(phone rings)
Hello?
Yes.
Fabrice.
(instrumental music)
- I came to tell you I love you.
The others were false but this is real
and I came to tell you.
- Do you think we shall ever live together?
- But of course we shall, for years and years and years.
Until I'm 90.
I have a very faithful nature.
- But you weren't very faithful to the others.
You said they lasted five years.
- Ah, but cause I love you 10 times more than them,
that brings me to 90.
(laughs)
I have been so romantic with so many women,
but with you, I knew from the first moment
it was like, recognizing somebody.
There, I can't explain.
- Don't try to.
(slow instrumental music)
(cries)
- There's no question of evacuation!
You women with a family must go down to the cellar
while the battle is on.
There's an excellent tap and I provisioned you
with bully beef for a week.
- Matthew!
- Linda's building has been bombed.
- What, what!
(tapping)
Hello!
Bloody cut off again!
- We could try Christian's friend, what was his name?
- Try the people who phoned in the first place.
- I told you, I don't know who it was,
Nanny took the message!
(yells) (cries)
- My bed simply went through the floor and I went with it.
Most comfortable.
(yells)
Oh thank God I didn't lose the baby.
- Baby?
(make mouth noise)
Is that garlic?
- Darling, you know what the doctor said.
- Isn't this lovely?
- Did you have it made when you were living in Paris?
It's really wonderful what you can get there
on no money if you're clever.
- And look, this goes with it.
(steps clattering)
- It was Sauveterre you were living with, wasn't it?
- How do you know?
- Everybody knew on the Riviera darling.
Clever you, napping him.
- Don't tell anyone.
- Oh I know, they think that you're still living
with your husband. (laughs)
Don't worry, I'm not that kind of gal.
- Excuse me.
- Well you needn't be like that with me sweetie.
- She thinks I'm like her, honestly.
I'm sorry Fanny, I know she's your mother.
- You're different.
- Why?
- You're not a bolter.
- Is Polly a bolter?
- I think if anyone's a bolter in that marriage
it's probably Boy.
(rumbling)
- So, here we are darlings, having our lovely cake
and eating it too.
One's great aim in life.
- What's the time darling? - Guess.
- He'll ring soon, I know he will.
- You know what I was thinking of Fanny?
We're a lost generation, you and me.
In history I expect the two wars will count as one war
and we shall be squashed out of it all together.
Might just as well never have lived at all.
I do think it's a shame.
(rumbling)
(lively instrumental music)
- Quick!
Down to the cellars!
Air attack!
There's a whole squadron of these sewers!
Come on Bolter!
(ringing)
Come on!
Time to go!
You're staying to fight!
(foreign language)
Huh?
- Linda?
Oh my god, Linda!
- Answer for the phone Fanny!
Answer the phone!
(gasps)
- Okay up!
False alarm.
- Help!
Help!
(baby cries)
The doctors were right, for it did kill her.
Fabrice was caught by the Gestapo and subsequently shot.
He was a hero of the resistance and his name
has become a legend in France.
Alfred and I adopted the little Fabrice.
He has black eyes, the same shape as Linda's blue ones
and is a most beautiful and enchanting child.
I love him quite as much as and perhaps more than,
I do my own.
- Poor Linda.
Well don't you think it's just as well?
The lives of women like her and me are not much fun
when one begins to grow older.
- Oh she would have been happy with Fabrice.
He was the great love of her life, you know,
and she of his.
- Oh darling, one always thinks that.
Every, every time.
(plucky instrumental music)